Update: In an interview with Chris Therien between periods, Flyers forward Colin McDonald noted that Neuvirth “wasn’t feeling that well in the locker room” before the game, and that “we were worried about him”. He did not clarify further, but it’s possible Neuvirth is dealing with the same kind of illness that kept Steve Mason out of tonight’s game. Here’s hoping that no one else on or around the team is having similar issues. Original post below.
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Tonight’s Flyers-Devils game at the Wells Fargo Center came to a sudden halt a bit over seven minutes into the first period as a scary moment unfolded on the ice. Michal Neuvirth, alone in his net as the two teams lined up for a neutral zone faceoff, collapsed in his crease and remained down on the ice for several minutes as Flyers doctors tended to him.
Here is that collapse:
Really scary scene in Philadelphia as Michael Neuvirth collapses. Stretcher out. pic.twitter.com/Qi1KJqfFGp
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) April 1, 2017
And from the bench, where the Flyers (and, thankfully, the medical staff) were quick to react:
The view of the Flyers bench immediately after Michal Neuvirth collapses pic.twitter.com/EghZptmyOq
— FansFrenzy (@fans_frenzy) April 1, 2017
Neuvirth was carted off after eventually re-gaining consciousness and was of course replaced in the game by Anthony Stolarz, who had just arrived at the arena about 15 minutes prior to Neuvirth leaving and is in Philadelphia tonight due to Steve Mason being a late scratch due to illness. There is no further word on Neuvirth’s status as of yet, but the fact that he was conscious as he was carted off is good news if nothing else. We’ll see what updates the Flyers have on his status as the night continues.
